January 16, 2018

Small modular reactors

In his December 2017 address to the Nuclear Industry Association’s Annual Conference in London, Energy Minister Richard Harrington set out the next steps for the Government’s plans to support Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. These are the smaller nuclear reactors which some feel will be the way forward for the nuclear industry if they can be shown to be cheaper, easier and quicker to build than current designs such as those proposed for Hinkley Point C, Wylfa in Anglesey and Moorside in Cumbria.

The Minister announced funding to support more engagement between SMR developers and nuclear safety regulators, research funding to support the development of advanced reactor designs and the establishment of an expert finance group to investigate barriers to investment in SMRs and how these can be overcome.

Speakers will include:

Fiona Rayment, Executive Director, Nuclear Innovation and Research Office (NIRO), National Nuclear Laboratory

Prof. Juan Matthews, Visiting Professor, Dalton Nuclear Institute, University of Manchester

Phil Mertens, Chief Technologist, Nuclear Controls [SMR Programme] and Nuclear Sector Senior Fellow, Rolls-Royce